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Abstract:

A floor cleaning device includes a floor cleaning head and a pole
directly or indirectly connectable to the floor cleaning head. The pole
includes two sections, and a joint for lockably positioning the two pole
sections in at least two different angular orientations.

Claims:

1. A floor cleaning device, comprising: a floor cleaning head; a pole
connectable to said floor cleaning head, said pole including two
sections; a joint locatable between said two pole sections, said joint
arranged to move said two pole sections between two different angular
orientations; said joint including a locking element that is biased into
a locking position in two different angular positions corresponding to
said two different angular orientations of said pole sections, and an
opposed disengagement member that is selectively actuable against said
locking element to move said locking element into an unlocked position,
allowing angular adjustment of the joint between said two different
angular positions.

2. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein said pole is indirectly
connectable to said floor cleaning head.

3. The floor cleaning device of claim 2, further including a component
housing, said pole being connectable to said component housing and said
component housing being connectable to said floor cleaning head.

4. The floor cleaning device of claim 3, wherein said pole is connectable
to an active functional component in said component housing so that user
forces on said pole actuate or interface with said active functional
component.

5. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein said two different
angular positions of said two pole sections includes a substantially
straight angular position and a folded angular position.

6. The floor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein said joint includes a
pair of adjacent, relatively rotatable, curved walls and said locking
element is located on one side of said pair of curved walls and said
disengagement member is located on the other side of said pair of curved
walls.

7. The floor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein said disengagement member
is controllable from a handle end of said pole.

8. The floor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein said disengagement member
includes a plurality of legs, with each leg corresponding to a different
angular position of said joint.

9. A floor cleaning device, comprising: a floor cleaning head; a pole
connectable to said floor cleaning head, said pole including two
sections; a joint locatable between said two pole sections, said joint
including an inner curved sidewall, an adjacent outer curved sidewall and
a pivot, said joint being rotatable between two different angular
positions corresponding to two different angular orientations of said two
pole sections; and a locking element slidably mounted about said pivot
and rotatable between said two different angular positions, said locking
element reciprocatingly moveable through said outer curved sidewall at
each of said two different angular positions to lock or unlock said
joint.

10. The floor cleaning device of claim 9, wherein said pole is indirectly
connectable to said floor cleaning head.

11. The floor cleaning device of claim 10, further including a component
housing, said pole being connectable to said component housing and said
component housing being connectable to said floor cleaning head.

12. The floor cleaning device of claim 11, wherein said pole is
connectable to an active functional component in said component housing
so that user forces on said pole actuate or interface with said active
functional component.

13. The floor cleaning device of claim 9, wherein said two different
angular orientations of said two pole sections includes a substantially
straight angular orientation and a folded angular orientation.

14. The floor cleaning device of claim 9, further including a
disengagement member for moving said locking element away from said outer
curved sidewall to unlock said joint.

15. The floor cleaning device of claim 9, wherein said joint includes a
first joint section and a second joint section, said first joint section
being received within said second joint section.

16. The floor cleaning device of claim 15, wherein said locking element
is located within said first joint section.

17. The floor cleaning device of claim 9, wherein said pivot limits the
movement of said locking element through said inner and outer curved
sidewalls.

18. A floor cleaning device, comprising: a floor cleaning head; a pole
connectable to the floor cleaning head, the pole including two sections;
a rotatable joint locatable between said two pole sections, said joint
including an internal locking system for locking said rotatable joint in
two different angular positions that correlate to two different angular
orientations of said two pole sections; an actuator controllable at a
handle portion of said pole to selectively disengage said internal
locking system of said joint, allowing a user to adjust said rotatable
joint between said two different angular positions.

19. The floor cleaning device of claim 18, wherein said pole is
indirectly connectable to said floor cleaning head.

20. The floor cleaning device of claim 19, further including a component
housing, said pole being connectable to said component housing and said
component housing being connectable to said floor cleaning head.

21. The floor cleaning device of claim 20, wherein said pole is
connectable to an active functional component in said component housing
so that user forces on said pole actuate or interface with said active
functional component.

22. The floor cleaning device of claim 18, wherein said two different
angular orientations of said two pole sections includes a substantially
straight position and a folded position.

23. The floor cleaning device of claim 18, wherein said actuator includes
a linkage extending from said joint to a user control at said handle
portion of said pole.

24. The floor cleaning device of claim 23, wherein said linkage is a
reciprocating rod.

25. The floor cleaning device of claim 18, wherein said joint includes a
locking element adapted to automatically lock said joint in said two
different angular positions of said pole sections.

26. A floor cleaning device, comprising: a floor cleaning head; a
component housing including at least one active functional component; a
pole connectable to said component housing to actuate or interface with
said at least one active functional component, said pole including two
sections; a joint for moving said two pole sections between two different
angular orientations, said joint adapted to lock automatically in each of
said two different angular orientations; and an actuator controllable at
a handle portion of said pole to allow a user to selectively unlock said
joint and move said two pole sections between said two different angular
orientations.

27. The floor cleaning device of claim 26, wherein said joint includes an
inner curved sidewall, an adjacent outer curved sidewall, said outer
curved sidewall including first and second locking openings corresponding
to two different angular positions of said joint

28. The floor cleaning device of claim 27, wherein said joint includes a
pivot and a biased locking element reciprocatingly slidable about said
pivot into and out of respective of said first and second locking
openings.

29. The floor cleaning device of claim 28, further including a
disengagement member for moving said biased locking element out of either
of said first and second locking openings to unlock said joint.

30. The floor cleaning device of claim 26, wherein said at least one
functional component is a pump.

31. The floor cleaning device of claim 26, wherein said component housing
includes a water reservoir, a steam generator, and a pump for delivering
water from said reservoir to said generator.

32. The floor cleaning device of claim 26, wherein said two different
angular orientations of said two pole sections includes a substantially
straight angular orientation and a folded angular orientation.

33. The floor cleaning device of claim 29, wherein said actuator includes
a linkage that extends between a user control at a handle portion of said
pole and said disengagement member.

Description:

FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a floor cleaning device and, more
particularly, to a floor cleaning device with a pole having two or more
angular orientations.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Floor cleaning devices typically include a pole that extends,
directly or indirectly, from a cleaning head. To access low,
hard-to-reach areas with a straight pole, a user may have to bend or
crouch. To avoid or limit the need to change a user's posture, foldable
pole sections have been proposed. For example, a joint may be provided
that locks adjacent sections of a pole in a substantially straight
orientation. When the joint is unlocked, the pole sections can freely
pivot back and forth as the user moves the cleaning head into and out of
low slung spaces. The pole sections may again be straightened, and the
joint locked, for cleaning unobstructed areas.

SUMMARY

[0003] In one aspect of the invention, a floor cleaning device includes a
floor cleaning head and a pole that is connectable, directly or
indirectly, to the floor cleaning head. The pole includes two sections
that are separated by a joint, the joint being arranged to move the two
pole sections between at least two different angular orientations. The
joint includes a locking element that is biased into a locking position
in each of two different angular positions that correspond to the two
different angular orientations of the pole sections. An opposed
disengagement member is selectively actuable against the locking element
to move the locking element into an unlocked position, allowing
adjustment of the joint between the two different angular positions.

[0004] In another aspect of the invention, a floor cleaning device
includes a floor cleaning head and a pole that is connectable, directly
or indirectly, to the floor cleaning head. The pole includes two sections
that are separated by a joint. The joint is rotatable between two
different angular positions corresponding to two different angular
orientations of the pole sections. The joint includes an inner curved
sidewall, an adjacent outer curved sidewall, and a pivot. A locking
element is slidably mounted about the pivot and is reciprocatingly
moveable through the inner and outer curved sidewalls at each of the two
different angular positions to lock or unlock the joint.

[0005] In another aspect of the invention, a floor cleaning device
includes a floor cleaning head and a pole connectable, directly or
indirectly, to the floor cleaning head. The pole includes two sections
and a rotatable joint to move the two pole sections between two different
angular orientations. The joint includes an internal locking system for
locking the joint at either of two different angular positions
corresponding, respectively, with the two different angular orientations
of the pole sections. An actuator is controllable by a user at a handle
portion of the pole to selectively disengage the internal locking system,
allowing adjustment of the rotatable joint between the two different
angular positions.

[0006] In a still further aspect of the invention, a floor cleaning device
includes a floor cleaning head and a component housing including at least
one active functional component. A pole is connectable to the component
housing to actuate or interface with the at least one functional
component. The pole includes two sections. A cylindrical joint is adapted
to move the two pole sections between two different angular orientations,
the joint automatically locking in each of the two different angular
orientations. An actuator is controllable by a user at a handle portion
of the pole to selectively unlock the joint, permitting movement of the
pole sections between the two different angular orientations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Other aspects, advantages and novel features will become more
apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the
invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a steam mop including a pole sections
in a first straightened position (partly in phantom) and a second folded
position;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a joint according to the invention;

[0010] FIGS. 3-5 are sectional illustrations showing rotation of a joint
according to the invention between a first and second angular position;
and

[0011] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a joint according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Various aspects of the invention are described below and/or shown
in the drawings. These aspects of the invention may be used alone and/or
in any suitable combination with each other. Aspects of the invention are
not limited in any way by the illustrative embodiments shown and
described herein.

[0013] Embodiments of the invention are directed to floor working devices,
more particularly to floor cleaning devices, such as a steam mop, floor
sweeper, floor buffer, or vacuum cleaner. Such floor cleaning devices
typically include a pole that extends from a handle to a component
housing that cooperates with a floor cleaning head (e.g., a housing that
encloses a motor for a vacuum cleaner or a steam generator for a steam
mop) or to a floor cleaning head itself. To help a user extend the
cleaning head to low, hard-to-reach places, such as underneath furniture,
the pole is divided into sections, for example a handle section and a
component housing or cleaning head section, with these sections being
selectively foldable from a first angled arrangement to a second angled
arrangement. Representative is a substantially straight (approximately
one hundred and eighty degrees--180°) first angled arrangement of
the pole sections and a second folded arrangement where the pole sections
are at a forty-five degree (45°) angle. The folded angled
arrangement of the pole sections allows a user easily to position the
cleaning head beneath a sofa or coffee table or other low slung object,
for example, without having to change substantially the user's posture.
The floor cleaning device may include one or more folded angle positions,
and the first angled position need not be at a substantially straight
orientation between adjacent pole sections. Further, the floor cleaning
device may include adjustable angle positioning at two or more locations
along a pole. For example, and without limitation, a cleaning device may
include a pair of pole sections between a floor cleaning head and a
component housing, and a second pair of pole sections between the
component housing and a handle end of the pole. Each of the pair of pole
sections may be adjustable amongst two or more different angular
positions (including a straightened angle position), and the angular
positions may vary as between the two different pairs of pole sections.

[0014] Particularly for floor cleaning equipment where the manipulation of
the pole actuates or interfaces with an active functional operation,
locking the pole sections when in a folded angle arrangement will enhance
the transmission of force from the handle section of the pole to the
operatively associated functional component. In a steam mop arrangement,
for example, the pole may be operatively connected to a manual pump
whereby pushing and/or pulling of the pole will actuate the pump.
Manipulation of the pole to actuate or otherwise interface with an active
component functionality in the floor cleaning head, component housing, or
elsewhere in the floor cleaning device, is not limited to pushing and/or
pulling, and also contemplates pivoting of the pole, rotation of the
pole, and other movements of the pole. As will be appreciated by one of
skill in the art, the pole may be directly or indirectly coupled to the
active functional component.

[0015] An arrangement for locking pole sections of a floor cleaning device
10 at various angular orientations is shown in FIGS. 1-6. The pole 12 may
be connected directly to a floor cleaning head 18, or indirectly such as
by a pole extending from a component housing 20 which, in turn, is
connected to the floor cleaning head. A joint 22 is provided between
respective sections 14, 16 of the pole and includes first and second
joint sections 24, 26 each having a curved sidewall 28, 30, the curved
sidewalls being positioned closely adjacent each other and arranged for
relative rotational movement. The first curved sidewall 28 (also referred
to as the inner curved sidewall) includes an opening 32 that is
registrable with either of first and second openings 34, 36 in the second
curved sidewall 30 (also referred to as the outer curved sidewall) upon
angular adjustment of the first and second joint sections. The first and
second openings in the second curved sidewall correspond to the first and
second angular positions of the joint. For example, the second opening
may be located at a 45° angular adjustment from the first opening,
with the first opening corresponding to a substantially straight
relationship between the respective pole sections while the second
opening correlates to an angle of approximately one hundred and thirty
five degrees (135°) between the pole sections. Further locking
openings may be provided in the second curved sidewall to provide
additional angular positions of the joint/relative angular orientations
of the pole sections. A locking tip 38 of a biased locking element 40
extends through the opening 32 in the first curved sidewall and will
project through a locking opening 34, 36 in the second curved sidewall
upon registration, locking the first and second curved sidewalls to one
another and preventing further angular adjustment of the two joint
sections. With the joint so locked, the pole sections are fixed in a
predetermined angular orientation.

[0016] A pivot 42, which may be in the shape of a rod as shown, may extend
between the first joint section to the second joint section, thereby
facilitating relative rotation therebetween. The pivot may be centrally
located as shown, or may be eccentrically positioned depending upon the
desired rotational movement of the joint sections. A slot 44 in the
locking element receives the pivot so that the locking element is
slidable about the pivot. A spring 46 may be located between the locking
element and an aspect of the first section, biasing the locking element
towards the pivot and the opening in the first sidewall. As illustrated,
the locking element may include a boss or other structure to support one
end of the spring, and rails may be provided in the first joint section
to contain the other end of the spring.

[0017] On the other side of the second curved sidewall, that is, the side
that is not nested adjacent the first curved sidewall, is located a
disengagement member 48 which may be selectively advanced by a user to
force the locking tip out of the registered opening in the second curved
sidewall. With the locking tip retracted, the curved sidewalls are
unlocked and one or both curved sidewalls are again free to rotate. The
disengagement member may have a U-shape, as shown, with each end of the
legs of the "U" corresponding to a respective opening in the outer curved
sidewall. Further legs may be added to the disengagement member where
additional locking openings have been included in the second curved
sidewall. The ends of the disengagement member may be angled, as shown,
to provide a surface that conforms with the contour of the outer curved
sidewall, facilitating rotation of the retracted locking tip. The overall
shape of the disengagement member and of the ends that contact the
locking tip may take other forms as should be apparent to one of skill in
the art. Alternative arrangements of the disengagement member are
contemplated, including a single disengagement bar that is moveable about
the second curved sidewall to align in opposite position with the locking
tip.

[0018] A linkage 50, such as an elongated rod as shown or other
arrangement as should be apparent to one of skill in the art, may extend
from a handle portion 52 of the cleaning device to the disengagement
member. The linkage may be located within the pole section or external of
the pole section. Movement of the linkage in the direction of the joint,
such as by depressing a button 54 in the handle that is operatively
associated with the linkage, will cause the disengagement member to press
against the locking tip, forcing the locking tip back out of the locking
opening in the second curved sidewall. The button may be biased away from
the handle to draw the linkage away from the joint and, in turn, to move
the ends of the disengagement member slightly away from the second curved
sidewall. Other arrangements for controlling the disengagement member,
and where a linkage is employed other arrangements for reciprocating the
linkage, are contemplated as one of skill in the art will appreciate.

[0019] Although described specifically with respect to two angular
positions, the joint may include three or more angular positions if
desired. Further, the different angular positions of the joint are not
limited to 0° and 45°; any angular positions of the joint
are within the scope of the invention. As an example, then, a joint may
be lockable at 0°, 45° and 90° (corresponding to
angular orientations of the pole sections of 180°, 135° and
90°). The joint may have an overall cylindrical shape, although
other shapes and configurations are suitable as should be apparent to one
of skill in the art. As shown, the first joint section may be
barrel-shaped and received within a yoke-shaped second joint section. The
first section includes a curved housing wall 56 that may depend past the
first curved sidewall and run the full length of the joint. A first pole
section connector 58 may extend away from the curved housing wall to be
joined, permanently or releasably, with a pole section, such as a pole
section that connects to the component housing or to a floor cleaning
head. The first pole section connector may be integrally formed with the
curved housing wall. An endwall face may extend between the first curved
sidewall and the curved housing wall. On the opposite side of the endwall
face is a mount for the locking element, including opposed walls that
provide support to the locking element. As mentioned earlier, the pivot
is received through a slot in the body of the locking element. The pivot
acts to confine the length of biased extension of the locking element.
The portion of the first curved sidewall defining the locking opening and
the opposed supporting walls impart rotational movement to the locking
element when the first joint section is rotated. A disc 60 is opposite
the end wall face and provides a surface, which may be smooth, along
which the locking element will reciprocatingly move into and out of
locking position.

[0020] The second joint section includes a pair of opposed cap faces 62,
64, and the second curved sidewall. An outer portion of the second curved
sidewall, between the two locking openings, may include an expanded
dimension 66, such as the rectangular shape shown, that bridges the legs
of the disengagement member helping to stabilize and guide movement of
this part. One of the cap faces may include a reduced circumferential
shoulder to fit within the well defined in part by the endwall of the
first joint section, helping to secure the joint together when the first
joint section is inserted into the second joint section. Aligned openings
may run through each cap face, the end face, the pivot member, and the
disc, for receipt of a bolt 68 which may be fastened with a nut 70 at one
of the cap faces to further secure together the components of the joint.
The exterior of the second curved sidewall may form the housing sidewall
72 for the second section of the joint. The housing sidewalls of the
first and second sections cooperate to form the housing for the joint.
The two housing sidewall sections do not extend completely around the
joint, there being a gap 74 between the ends that correlates to the
angular adjustment of the joint. The ends of the respective housing
sidewall sections may be arranged to abut one another when the joint is
in either of its farthest-most angular extents.

[0021] A pole section connector 76 may extend from the curved sidewall of
the second section to be joined, permanently or releasably, with a pole
section, such as a pole section that extends to the handle. The second
pole section connector may be configured to support and guide the
disengagement member and may further support the linkage or a shaft
housing including the linkage as shown. In certain embodiments, each leg
of the disengagement member may include a pair of spaced rails that
accept, respectively, a guide rail extending from the connector. The
connector may be integral with the second joint section and may be formed
in half pieces to facilitate assembly.

[0022] Although shown as substantially straight, either or both of the
pole sections may be non-linear. The relative lengths of the pole
sections may vary depending upon the application. The pole sections may
be solid or hollow, and may be configured to support various components
of the cleaning device such as a linkage, power wires, etc. Further, the
pole sections and joint may be configured to provide a pathway for
liquids, solids, and/or gas (such as air), or any combinations of the
foregoing. The latter embodiment contemplates, for example, a joint and
pole sections extending between a floor cleaning head (e.g., steam mop or
vacuum nozzle) and a component housing (e.g., steam generator or suction
motor and dust cup). The pole sections may be formed from metal, plastic,
a combination of metal and plastic, and other materials as should be
apparent to one of skill in the art. Similarly, the joint may be formed
of plastic, metal, a combination of plastic and metal or other materials

[0023] A representative floor cleaning device, in this case a steam mop,
including the inventive joint is shown in FIG. 1. The steam mop includes
a floor cleaning head having a steam outlet that opens in the direction
of the floor, and may have a steam permeable fabric that is in the form
of a pad or towel that is positioned at the floor cleaning side of the
head or is in the form of a pocket that fits over the head. The cleaning
head is positioned beneath a component housing, and preferably is
pivotable in one or more directions relative to the housing. The
component housing includes a reservoir for water, a steam generator for
converting the water to steam, and a manual pump (e.g., bellows or piston
pump) for delivering water from the reservoir to the steam generator. A
conduit runs from the steam generator to the steam outlet in the cleaning
head. Wiring and a plug for connecting to a power source extends from the
housing although, alternatively, a battery or other power source might be
employed.

[0024] A pole extends from the component housing to a handle. One end of
the pole is coupled to the manual pump in the housing, such that pushing
and pulling of the pole actuates the pump. A rotatable joint, lockable in
at least two different angular positions (such as 0°) and
(45°, divides the pole into two sections--a first section
extending from the component housing to the joint and a second section
extending from the joint to the handle. The rotatable joint is as
described earlier.

[0025] The operation of a floor cleaning device including a joint
according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described. We
start with the joint locked in a first angular position where the pole
sections are in a substantially straight line (shown in phantom in FIG.
1). This arrangement is suitable for moving the cleaning head along an
unobstructed floor surface. When the user wants the cleaning head to
reach low spaces under furniture or a bed, the pole sections may be
folded. A button on the handle is pressed, acting on a linkage that
governs a disengagement member to unlock the joint. The user then applies
a downward force to the handle causing the unlocked joint to rotate to
the folded angular position, and in turn moving the pole sections to the
folded position. The joint automatically locks in the "folded" angular
orientation. Where the cleaning device includes an active functional
component that is actuated by movement of the pole, the user can push the
handle toward the component housing or cleaning head and the pushing
force will be effectively transmitted along the folded pole to actuate
the component functionality. To return to a straightened pole
orientation, the user simply depresses the button again which releases
the joint and allows the pole sections to be pivoted back to the extended
configuration. Again, the joint will automatically lock when the
straightened angular position is reached.

[0026] Although embodiments have been described in connection with floor
cleaning devices such as a steam mop, floor sweeper, floor buffer, and
vacuum cleaner, other floor and surface cleaning or working devices also
are contemplated including, without limitation, a mop, a duster, a broom,
and a shovel.

[0027] The above and other aspects of the invention will be appreciated
from the detailed description and claims. It should be understood that
although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to
illustrative embodiments, aspects of the invention are not limited to the
embodiments described. Also, aspects of the invention may be used alone,
or in any suitable combination with other aspects of the invention.